Η υπάλληλος είπε ότι δεν μπορούν να εγκρίνουν το αίτημα σήμερα, γιατί λείπει ένα δικαιολογητικό.

In Greek, some nouns ending in -ος can be either masculine or feminine. Η υπάλληλος means the female employee / clerk, while ο υπάλληλος would mean the male employee / clerk.

So the article tells you the gender here:

• η υπάλληλος = the female employee
• ο υπάλληλος = the male employee

This is one of those nouns where the ending does not by itself tell you the gender.

Είπε is the 3rd person singular past form of λέω (to say), so it means he/she said.

Here the subject is η υπάλληλος, which is singular, so Greek uses:

• η υπάλληλος είπε = the employee said

A few useful forms:

• είπα = I said
• είπες = you said
• είπε = he/she/it said
• είπαν = they said

Ότι introduces a content clause, similar to English that:

• είπε ότι... = she said that...

So:

• Η υπάλληλος είπε ότι... = The employee said that...

In everyday Greek, people sometimes use πως in similar situations:

• είπε πως...
• είπε ότι...

Both can mean said that...

Greek often leaves out subject pronouns when they are understood from the verb ending. Μπορούν means they can.

In this sentence, the subject is not explicitly named, but it is understood from context: probably the office, the staff, the authorities, or the people in charge.

So:

• δεν μπορούν να εγκρίνουν το αίτημα
  = they can’t approve the application/request

This kind of vague they is very common in Greek, just as in English.

After verbs like μπορώ (can / be able to), Greek normally uses να + verb.

So:

• μπορούν να εγκρίνουν = they can approve

This is a very common pattern:

• μπορώ να πάω = I can go
• μπορεί να έρθει = he/she can come
• δεν μπορούν να εγκρίνουν = they cannot approve

The form εγκρίνουν is the verb form used after να here.

The verb is εγκρίνω, meaning to approve.

Here you have:

• να εγκρίνουν = to approve / that they approve

More exactly, this is the 3rd person plural form in the να-clause:

• εγκρίνω = I approve
• εγκρίνουν = they approve
• να εγκρίνουν = for them to approve / that they approve

In this sentence, it works naturally as approve after can:

• δεν μπορούν να εγκρίνουν = they can’t approve

Το αίτημα is in the accusative case because it is the direct object of εγκρίνουν (approve).

• εγκρίνουν τι; = approve what?
• το αίτημα = the request / application

For neuter nouns like αίτημα, the nominative and accusative are often the same in form:

• το αίτημα = nominative or accusative singular

So even though the form looks unchanged, its role in the sentence is object here.

Αίτημα usually means request. In many official or bureaucratic contexts, it can also be translated as application or petition, depending on the situation.

So in this sentence, το αίτημα could be:

• the request
• the application

The best English translation depends on context. If this is about paperwork at an office, application may sound more natural.

Σήμερα means today. Here it comes after το αίτημα:

• δεν μπορούν να εγκρίνουν το αίτημα σήμερα

This is a natural position, but Greek word order is flexible, so other placements are also possible, for example:

• σήμερα δεν μπορούν να εγκρίνουν το αίτημα
• δεν μπορούν σήμερα να εγκρίνουν το αίτημα

The version in your sentence sounds very natural and neutral.

Yes, γιατί can mean both why? and because, depending on context.

Here it clearly means because since it introduces a reason:

• ..., γιατί λείπει ένα δικαιολογητικό.
• ..., because a supporting document is missing.

Compare:

• Γιατί άργησες; = Why were you late?
• Άργησα γιατί είχε κίνηση. = I was late because there was traffic.

So the same word can function as either why or because.

Because the subject is ένα δικαιολογητικό, which is singular.

Greek works like English here:

• λείπει ένα δικαιολογητικό = one document is missing

If the subject were plural, the verb would also be plural:

• λείπουν δικαιολογητικά = documents are missing

So λείπει agrees with the singular subject ένα δικαιολογητικό.

The verb λείπω means to be missing, to be absent, or to be lacking.

So:

• λείπει ένα δικαιολογητικό literally means a supporting document is missing

This is a very common Greek way to express missing items:

• Μου λείπει ένα χαρτί. = I’m missing a document / One document is missing for me.
• Λείπει η υπογραφή. = The signature is missing.

In your sentence, the focus is on the missing document needed for approval.

Δικαιολογητικό is a common bureaucratic word meaning a supporting document, required document, or piece of documentation.

Depending on context, it could be something like:

• an ID copy
• a certificate
• proof of address
• a tax document
• some other required paper

So:

• λείπει ένα δικαιολογητικό = a required supporting document is missing

Because ένα δικαιολογητικό is the subject of λείπει, and it is indefinite: a document, not the document.

So Greek uses the indefinite article:

• ένα δικαιολογητικό = a supporting document

If it were definite, it would be:

• το δικαιολογητικό = the supporting document

And if you needed a genitive form, that would depend on a different structure entirely. In this sentence, the simple nominative subject is what Greek needs.

Yes. Greek often uses an active construction with an unspecified they, where English might prefer a passive.

Your sentence says literally:

• The employee said that they can’t approve the request today, because a supporting document is missing.

But in natural English, you could also say:

• The employee said that the request can’t be approved today because a supporting document is missing.

Both convey the same basic meaning. Greek commonly uses the active δεν μπορούν να εγκρίνουν in this kind of official context.

Not especially. The sentence uses a very standard, natural Greek word order:

• Η υπάλληλος είπε
• ότι δεν μπορούν να εγκρίνουν το αίτημα σήμερα
• γιατί λείπει ένα δικαιολογητικό

Greek word order is more flexible than English because case endings and verb forms already show grammatical relationships. However, changing the order can slightly shift emphasis.

The given order sounds neutral and natural for everyday speech or formal explanation.